First rays of sun create 34% more hotel bookings in March

The first rays of sunshine and awakening nature are causing an early upturn in the hotel sector. Last week, temperatures rose to 20 degrees. HotelSpecials sees Dutch people opting en masse for a short ‘spring break’ after a long, grey winter. The number of bookings for spring is already over 34% higher than last year, a remarkable increase compared to previous years.

Although the official start of spring is yet to come, the search for the ideal weekend getaway, especially around the early Easter weekend, is in full swing. “We see that this spring the Dutch are very specifically opting for destinations where nature and luxury come together,” says Rick ten Cate, marketing manager at HotelSpecials.

Dates indicate the ‘run’: Earlier booking for Easter

HotelSpecials figures confirm spring fever and a changing booking behaviour. Travellers book their stay for March this year on average 2 days further ahead than last year. This earlier search creates a direct effect on the market: for the Easter weekend, HotelSpecials currently sees demand in popular regions double every week. As consumers strike earlier to be assured of the best Specials, the most popular hotels are filling up considerably faster than in previous years.

Top 3 most popular spring destinations

Current booking data from HotelSpecials shows that the Dutch are opting en masse for a short spring break at home this spring, despite the recent VAT shock. The top three most popular cities show impressive increases:

Gouda: bookings are up by over 480% this spring. Historic canals and blooming bulb fields attract plenty of visitors.
Rotterdam: the number of bookings more than doubled (+110%). Modern hotels, culinary hotspots and terraces along the Meuse make the city popular.
Maastricht: bookings increased by about 20%. Culture, gastronomy and proximity to nature create attraction.

Run on spring: Spring weather causes booking spike

Last week's sunny weather has woken up the ‘last-minute decider’. At HotelSpecials, we saw the number of bookings rise by a whopping 20% compared to last week. With hundreds of new bookings for the Easter weekend, the message is clear: those who still want to grab a terrace on the Meuse or the canals should switch now before the most popular locations are fully booked.

About HotelSpecials

HotelSpecials has been the platform to find the right hotel for short breaks in Europe for over 20 years. On our user-friendly website you will find unique Specials and attractive deals on hotels in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, Austria and Sweden. So you will always find an accommodation that suits your needs.